Regions of Light and Sound of God is intriguing and quirky; its songs often pose big questions inside informal, loosely developed pop song structures that are instantly accessible yet whose lyrics are often metaphysically elusive.

Regions Of Light is about surrendering yourself to the wonder of the unknown: Often on this adventurous and deeply heartfelt album, it’s unclear whether James is singing to a lover or to God, and that seems to be the point.

Ultimately, Regions wins by turning broad, universal questions into James’ own personal conquests. Over the course of nine songs, James crafts an album that’s equal parts weighed down by loneliness and lifted up with hope, sometimes distant and other times fully engaged.

Overall, Regions Of Light And Sound Of God is a good rather than great album, lacking some of the spine-tingling dynamics of My Morning Jacket but delivering a consistent vision than many of their efforts.

While addressing the same themes he's been tweaking for more than a decade now, James adds a new trick to his ever-expanding repertoire: transforming the boundless possibilities of solo creativity into a cohesive one-man show.

Regions of Light and Sound of God is all heated feelings and extravagant gestures. It is also what solo albums are for: the leader of a great band out on a limb, in rapt self-examination, getting weird and interesting.

There's a certain variety to the approach here, but it coheres for the most part on James's insistently tuneful interrogation of himself. He remains a smart commentator on the voyeuristic elements of attraction.

the monster of folk's slow-jamming, white-suited funk would seem fresher and riskier (at least in this godless era) if Matthew E. White, another Southerner with that old-time religion/romance on his mind, hadn't carved out similar turf on last year's equally ambitious and somewhat superior Big Inner.

Regions of Light and Sound of God is as succinct as he’s ever been on record, and while it doesn’t exactly live up to its grandiose title, it’s a fascinating musical backroad to find yourself stranded in.

The minimalism of this album mostly works than it doesn't. Jim James is truly inspired to write songs about his spiritual state of being asThe minimalism of this album mostly works than it doesn't. Jim James is truly inspired to write songs about his spiritual state of being as he grows as a singer/songwriter. I took the tribute to George Harrison that he did in 2009 under the acronym of "Yim Yames" and copied it onto a copy of this album, and now I've got an hour's worth of really inspiring and good music. ...and of course, James' voice only helps these songs.…Full Review »

Jim James has enjoyed much success fronting ‘My Morning Jacket’ and rightly so but it’s here on his debut solo record ‘Regions Of Light AndJim James has enjoyed much success fronting ‘My Morning Jacket’ and rightly so but it’s here on his debut solo record ‘Regions Of Light And Sound of God’ that his talents truly shine. Written, produced and almost entirely performed by James this really is an exceptional record. I must admit the album didn’t grab me on first listen but after a few turns it really opened itself to me in all its beauty. I think the main thing is that it’s hard to categorise, there is just so much going on, but not in a muddled way, everything works in perfect harmony. Which means Americana nestles up to funk and synths share space with mariachi folk, it’s a blending of styles that in the wrong hands could have been disastrous but here is quite the opposite. ‘Know Til Now’ sounds like Hot Chip in one of their more mellower moments, whereas ‘Actress’ could have come straight off a ‘John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band’ record. Layers of strings and trumpets wash certain tracks and space plays a big part like the instrumental ‘Exploding’ that cuts the album in half. I’d like to say that the nine compositions contain experimentation because that’s how it feels at times but I’m sure that everything is calculated down to the last note. With the exception of say Matthew E White no one is making music like this, making music that lasts, investing time and talent into something that will be listened to for a long time to come. Get this record, play this record and let it show you its complex magnificence.…Full Review »

An album composed to be so simple has never delivered such volume and grace with it's material. Jame's vocals are not set out to dominate theAn album composed to be so simple has never delivered such volume and grace with it's material. Jame's vocals are not set out to dominate the sound but are rather 'just there'. State of technology is a stand out for me. It's cool jazz like piano loop as well as slow building progression mean this song can be enjoyed and loved time over. Can't doubt that this may be a future LSD party favorite but I admire it fully in it's own right and feel Jame's will progress onwards from his already great work with MMJ…Full Review »